Plane crashes into U.S. house, 3 on board killed

But residents managed to flee as fire engulfed the home

Firefighters work to extinguish flames after a small plane crashed into a house in Plainville, Massachusetts on Sunday. It had taken off from Lancaster Airport in Pennsylvania and was en route to an airport in Norwood, Massachusetts.

A small plane has crashed into a house, killing three people on board, police said, but residents managed to flee as fire engulfed the home.

The Beechcraft BE36 aircraft crashed into the house at about 5:45 pm on Sunday, said Jim Peters of the Federal Aviation Administration. It had taken off from the Lancaster Airport in Pennsylvania and was headed for Norwood Memorial Airport in Massachusetts.

3 hours to douse blaze

Fire crews extinguished the blaze nearly three hours after the crash in Plainville, southwest of Boston, said Massachusetts State Police spokesman Dave Procopio. He said the residents escaped and preliminary reports showed three people in the plane were killed.

Neighbours reported hearing something amiss as the plane flew over their homes.

Mike Brown tells

The Sun Chronicle that he was outside barbecuing when he heard the plane, looked up and saw it start to bank. He said the engine sounded like it was sputtering and then heard a crash and saw smoke.

The identities of the dead won’t be released until the National Transportation Safety Board has notified their families, Mr. Peters said.